This Japanese pitcher

[BigAl115]

this bidding thing is ridiculous for the teams though...there is always 1 team that way overbids and winds up overpaying a few million a year for someone ...I hope everyone lowballs it....(I know its not going to happen, Just wishful thinking)

[MSBNYY]

The blind part of it is where it's really messed up. Hell, hold an auction.

[globix]

From yesterdays Daily News:

If the top major-league bidder and Matsuzaka can't come to an agreement on a contract, the pitcher must return to the Seibu Lions, who won't collect that eight-figure posting fee.

Why shouldn't Toronto bid over the top for the rights, and then lowball him, thus keeping him away division rivals?

[MSBNYY]

I would guess there are repercussions against doing that. The commissioner's office certainly could punish a team acting in bad faith. It could probably set off some lawsuits too, based on tortious interference with contract. I don't see any team doing that.

[$heriff Tom]

Not only that, it would throw a serious wrench into the relationship Major League Baseball has forged with the Japanese leagues. It would also make the team doing such a thing come off really bad, and that would not help in its dealings with the rest of the league. There is a code of ethics out there. Balls said it flat out - "bad faith." You wont be seeing it.

[MSBNYY]

Not to mention, for Toronto to do this, they would have to commit at least $30 million. Let's call it $35 million, just to be safe that they outbid everyone. What if the lowball offer was accepted? Even though Matsuzaka himself would be screwed, Toronto now has a TON of money committed to something they never intended.

Even the worst offer this guy gets will be for 3 years. Even at league minimum, which is about $330K, they wouldn't pay $35 million for 1 year. At 3 years, at league minimum, the guy would be costing them $13 million a year, and what if he sucks?

But the reality is, no team is going to bid on a guy just to win the rights to not sign him.

Even if some sort of bad faith situation happened, MLB may compensate Seibu and Matsuzaka by moving on to the second highest bidder to save face.

[MSBNYY]

He's going to Boston, according to WFAN.

[$heriff Tom]

Thats really bad. I am not much for Jap imports, but the scouting reports on this guy are just SICK. And he is exactly the kind of pitcher the Yankees tie themselves in knots trying to hit. And if he does go to Boston, we will be seeing a Hell of a lot of him.

Oh geez.

[MSBNYY]

Hopefully he'll take a linedrive to the face.

[$heriff Tom]

With our luck he will bow to be polite like all those Orientals do, and the line drive will zip over his head.

[MSBNYY]

Then may have stab himself with a broken bat if he gives up a hit.

[9]

This is SO not good. I hope Buster Olney jumped the gun.

[$heriff Tom]

He's not known for doing that.

[sancho231]

Gotta give it up to Tom for still using the word "Oriental". but yeah this is gonna suck, since when did the redsox want to spend 100 mil?

[$heriff Tom]

They have to keep up with the Yankees.

[BigAl115]

Hey Tom whats this league coming to ..its being over run by Mexicans, Orientals and colored folk ..i

[BigAl115]

BTW if the Sox wind up with this guy ...Steinbrenner is going to have a conniption....

[$heriff Tom]

No he won't. He's hardly lucid. First time someone showed him video of this guy he thought he was watching The Bad News Bears Go To Japan.

[MSBNYY]

Maybe he was and that's why he fainted.

When asked for comment at this aquisition, Ichiro said, "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

Upon reaching Hideki Matsui, he said, "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[$heriff Tom]

Thanks for sabatoging my funny joke with a stupid one.

Anyhoo, for those of you who need to be re-versed on what we lost and what the Red Sox gained, here are snippets from a scouting story which will surely turn your stomach...


Matsuzaka’s four-seam fastball sits in the 90-94 mph range with average movement. The key to his 4-seam heater is the plus command he displays of the pitch on a regular basis.

“He’ll fight the corners until he finds the zone,” said the AL scout. He’s not afraid of walking a couple while he’s feeling out the strike zone. He rarely shows poor control and when he does it’s typically with his breaking stuff and offspeed stuff. He usually has good command of both of his fastballs.”

Yeah, he said both. Matsuzaka also uses a two-seam variety, in which he can cut in and out off the plate, as well as sink down out of the zone. It’s not a pitch that any of the scouts saw a lot of in 2006, but enough to know it’s there. Rafael Chaves is a big proponent of the two-seamer, especially the kind that induce ground balls, and Matsuzaka can often end an at-bat with a ground ball, when he’s looking to do so.

“Most strikeout pitchers give up the fly ball, and therefore the home run, too,” said the veteran scout. “But Matsuzaka hasn’t been looking for the strikeout, at least not regularly. He seems to understand that getting outs, no matter how they come about, is the name of the game.

“You see those Ks and think he’s Nolan Ryan, but he’s not. He can pitch, and that sinking fastball he’s got is probably underused. If he focused on that pitch more, it might be a 6 or better (on the 2-8 scale.”)

Matsuzaka’s 2-seam heater typically hit the 89-91 mph range, but touched 92-93 in one start in May, which led the NL scout to believe that he’s intentionally taking velocity off the pitch.

“I’ve seen him throw nothing but fastballs and sinkers for two innings at a time, maybe three, and give up zilch. He overmatched a lot of clubs but even when he was fighting his command, he was tough.”

Now that’s pitching.

The four-seamer received a 65 from one scout and a 60/65 from the other two. With the average MLB fastball believed to be about 87-88 mph, Matsuzaka’s velo alone is worth a 60 grade.

Matsuzaka’s BEST pitch is his curve ball. At times, it appears to be a slurvy style offering, but he throws it like a curve ball, so that’s what we’ll call it.

If you have not seen the video of Matsuzaka from last May and June, google that sucker, because he throws a few curves that will boggle the mind.

“That thing can be devastating,” said the veteran scout. “It’s a real good curve, one of the best you’ll see on any continent. He can hang it every once in awhile, but when it’s working it’s a late, and sometimes double-breaking pitch.

“It always shows a sharp downward break like most curves do, but sometimes it slides in on left-handed guys and away from the right-handers. He’s tied up more lefties on that pitch…”

Usually clocked between 77 and 81 mph, Matsuzaka’s curve ball needs a nickname, because it’s a plus-plus pitch, and I don’t care what anyone else says.

“I think it’s a 70,” said the veteran scout. “If he can get outs with it in the states, I’ll rethink that, but for now, I’ll stand by that.”

The NL scout said: “It’s well above average, I like it a lot. After you’ve seen a few good fastballs on the corner, you can’t adjust to a curve ball like this. It’s certainly a plus pitch.”

The soon-to-be 26-year-old’s most important pitch might be his change. Matsuzaka uses a forkball type grip and with his flawless arm action, he creates great deception in both speed and movement on the forkball.

I’d prefer not to call it a forkball, but apparently it’s more of a fork than a split, due to how deep the ball sits in Daisuke’s fingers. It’s more like a dead salmon being thrown 83-86 mph down at Pike Place, but instead of reaching the hands of the fish market gurus, it smacks a glass wall that we can’t see with the naked eye, and slides to the floor, uncatchable, unhittable.

“I agree, that’s got a good chance to be the most critical pitch for him in America,” said the AL scout. “Power arms with good change-ups can’t miss over here and he’s got the makings of a pretty good forkball.”

“I’d give it a 55 or 60, for now,” said the veteran scout. Most of this is, of course, based on how the pitches fared in Japan, since that’s pretty much all anyone has seen thus far.”

“It’s above average,” said the NL scout. “His arm speed is solid and the action is pretty good, but it’s a feel pitch and he does tend to lose a good feel for it at times. Sometimes it appears to be unavailable to him.”

Four above-average pitches, plus velo, good command, good arm speed… what else is there?

Lots.

“He’s not all about stuff,” said the NL scout. “He’s not a thrower – if he was, he wouldn’t be any good over here in the U.S. He thinks out there on the mound, and the key for me is the way hitters react to his pitches. They just don’t have good Abs and they are rarely locked in. That’s a great sign.”

Matsuzaka drew comparisons to Hideki Irabu in these conversations, based on Irabu’s Japanese success and the way he could intimidate hitters and force an uncomfortable experience in the box.

“Yeah, he’s got some of that,” said the AL scout. “But as you watch him start after start, it’s not just about the hitter not being confident – they aren’t – but he’ll drill a guy, he pitches inside, which is a bit rare over here.”

So, he’s pretty smart, confident, has no qualms about buying back the inner half of the plate.

Sign me up.

“I’d take him in heartbeat,” said the veteran scout. “I know we’re interested or I wouldn’t have spent so much time typing up all those reports. I’d pony up the dough if it was my money to give. He’s a terrific talent.

[Jason Giambi]

why can't we say oriental?

[$heriff Tom]

I was told that "RUGS are oriental, PEOPLE are Asian" whatever the Hell that is supposed to mean.

[MSBNYY]

Your joke was made funnier by mine.

You really shouldn't call them Oriental. I heard they prefer Chinaman.

[globix]

word is the red sox offered between $38-45 million. They can have him. Especially since there is also word Boras will be pushing for as short a deal as possible, (rumored to be 3 years) so as to get this guy to free agency, to drive up the annual price for him.

[MSBNYY]

I'm assuming the Sox got him, but I do wonder why Seibu didn't accept on Friday. $38-$45 million is a SHITLOAD of money, and more than they expected. Even the highest guesses had it at $30 million.

So why didn't they just jump at it? Why are they "debating" it?

You only debate when the number is lower than expected, not higher.

Could very well be malarky. But I doubt it.

[$heriff Tom]

Launch Radio Networks reports: AEROSMITH lead guitarist Joe Perry is thrilled about the newest man to put on the uniform of his hometown baseball team, the Boston Red Sox. Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka recently signed a deal to play for the Sox after starring for almost a decade in Japan with the Seibu Lions. Perry said, "We are proud and honored to have him come to Boston. I know he is going to enjoy playing in Boston, the U.S., and Canada as much as AEROSMITH enjoys playing and visiting Japan. On a more personal note, I know he will find a warm reception from the Boston fans for him and his family, just as I have found for me and my family in Japan. It's gonna be a rockin'season this year! Fenway Park will never be the same. Good luck, Matsuzaka-san."

[MSBNYY]

Great reception, unless he starts losing, and then he will be booed back to Hiroshima.